Looking at a used LC4?

I was asked this morning via PM about what to look for when buying a '02 KTM 640A.

As I had a bit of time before I had to go do things and stuff, I wrote back what I think is a good, although not necessarily complete by any means, list of things to look for... and an opinion on buying used LC4s in general.

I thought I'd share...

Creeper said:

F.B. said:

Hello Creeper. I thought I'd ask you since you seem to be very knowledgeable in regard to the KTM 640's. There is a 02 KTM 640 Adventure with 12,000 miles on it for sale in my area. I've ridden with the guy once. He's asking $5000 for the bike. I'm going to go take a look at it tonight or tomorrow. He says he faithfully maintains it and does a complete tear down every winter. What should I be looking for? Oh the bike has new rims due to a recall as well.
Thanks
B.

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The price is a little high for an "average price"... but if it's as well maintained as you say, it might be worth it.
If I were to offer up my '03 for sale, I'd have a hard time parting with it for less than $7K... proper care and attention plays a big part in bike values as far as I'm concerned.
A used but exceptionally well maintained (the phrase "adult owned" pops to mind) 640A can be worth far more than the "average bike". One that is mistreated by the owner... and "treated" to a once a year service in a shop by some uncaring, pimple-faced, I-pod listening, text messaging instead of talking like a normal human-fuckin' being, low IQ punk.

For a '02 to be worth $5000, bearing in mind that they take a bit of a hit compared to '03 and later due to all the improvements that occurred in '03, it would have to be very, very, very clean.

I always look first at chain and sprockets... they should look near new, with a well lubed and properly adjusted chain.

Get down on hands and knees with a flashlight and look for leaks:

Beneath the countershaft sprocket.

Around the upper left corner of the head rocker cover.

Around the front left exhaust flange.

Around the head and base gasket area.

Around the kickstart/shift shaft area.

These are the most common leak locations for any LC4.

Look also for:

Weepy fork seals.

Leaky shock absorber.

Condition of brake pads and rotors.

Condition and tension of spokes.

Front/rear wheel/axle alignment.

Exhaust system cracks and leakage.

"If the air filter looks like a botany experiment gone awry"... the owner might be a redneck. (Thanks to woodsrider for that tip!)

Fuel system leakage and signs of staining.

Condition of all rubber hoses... cracks and leakage.

"Vehicle alignment". Meaning... sit on the bike and look at bars, forks etc... does it all look straight to you?

Condition of the engine oil.

When you're on the bike, and you bounce up and down on the suspension... does it squeak and squawk or is it quiet and "fluid sounding".

Check that all hand controls and lighting work.

Check the adjustment and condition of the clutch cable, throttle and de-compression cables.

Check for headlight lens cracks... they are expensive lights.

When you start the bike, bear in mind that LC4s are noisy engines on a good day... but you shouldn't hear any "defined" loud noises, just a bunch of general muffled clicks and clacks.
Put a rag over the muffler with the engine runnning... the engine should have some noise, but not sound like it's eating itself alive.

Ask about valve lash adjustment frequency and if the owner has noticed any trends in valve recession or any surprise increases in lash.

Ask about oil and filter change frequency... at least every 3K miles or less is preferable.

Ask about steering head bearing service, rear suspension linkage service... and about water pump seal failure and repairs.

I'm running out of stuff off the top of my head.... so at this point, you're on your own.
LC4s prior to '03 get hosed a bit, but only in comparison to '03 and later. The earlier 640As were, in there time, the pinnacle of competition grade, single cylinder, DS-Adventure bikes.
When you look at buying a used KTM... consider you are buying something more than a disposable, ride-it-till-it-blows-and-toss-it-on-the-scrap-heap motorcycle.

The current model LC4 has come to an end. I'm not suggesting that fact rates a premium for a used bike... but a nice example of an '02 deserves a continued place in the world, IMO.

My recommendation is (if you can possibly afford it) is to go with the newer bike. I saw that a 05 with 80 miles on it recently sold for $6,600.00 and they ofen go for less. If youre already looking at around $5,000 for the 02, I would go the extra for a newer bike.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o>In my opinion, these motorcycles are kind of like dogs in that the original purchase price turns out to be fairly insignificant when you take into consideration the time effort and money you will more than likely put into it over the course of ownership. I wouldnt quibble over a few hundred dollars up front.
<o> </o>Having recently purchased a 01 with very low miles (1200) and paid under 4k for it, 5K seems a bit high. My friend (Badfish2) also just bought one (may have been Gaspipes old bike) for around 4K
<o> </o> I can tell that it is one the most fun bikes I have owned. I am confident you will be so happy with a 640 Adv. After you ride it, you will soon forget what you paid for it.
<o> </o>
<o>My .02</o>Good Luck!!! Woof woof

It may have been in Creeper's post, but get a specific service, repair history. Problem areas are; leak'n top cover, water pump, leak'n fork seals, breaking spokes. Did it have a main bearing upgrade done and who did it?

It may have been in Creeper's post, but get a specific service, repair history. Problem areas are; leak'n top cover, water pump, leak'n fork seals, breaking spokes. Did it have a main bearing upgrade done and who did it?

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I did mention everything you listed Rad... but that damn transmission bearing! I always seem to forget that. :tb

In addition to the above, it also might be telling to take a peak at the air filter. If it looks like a botany experiment gone awry, that might be indicative of generally poor maintenance on other parts of the bike.

If it's an 02, see if the front wheel has been replaced under the recall.

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Yep Drifty, FB mentioned that in his last sentence, and why I don't... but good to point it out, as much like the tranny bearing, I would have forgotten it.

This was my intent for posting... I can't remember everything off the top of my head and as I don't know "FB" from Adam, I didn't want to invest too much time and effort into doing what would be his research.
But after considering what I had down already, I figured that if I posted it, then other knowledgeable folks would add in there own bits and pieces to consider.
Some exceptions to this would be posts that are irrelevant to the intent.

Maybe when this has run it's course, I'll take what has been added and insert it into the first post for a fairly conclusive list of things to check on an LC4.

jeez, this should go to sticky land, or the info stick thing. great info, dont forget to tip, sport fans.

Creep, so ya dont like us I-pod users? dont tell me your zune user

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Geeezzz... sooo sensitive.

Unless you are a 19'ish, workin' in a bike shop service department, sidewalk commando tattoo'd, nose-pierced, I-pod listening, text messaging instead of talking like a normal human-fuckin' being, low IQ punk... I don't think the reference pertains to you pookie.

I have an '02. The price really depends on how much extra stuff is hung on the bike. Contributors to a higher sale price are hard bags, non-stock exhaust, Touratech GPS mount, Renazco seat, heated grips...you get the idea. Start at $3.5-4.5K and start adding up the goodies. I would subtract dollars for miles over 15-20K. You are getting into wheel bearing, water pump and suspension work.

I bought mine a couple of seasons ago loaded with goodies for $5.6K which seemed about right but I had to do the exhaust.
I tore into mine mechanically at 12K miles, everything looked good except the rear suspension linkage. There was some corrosion, I saved it but you should ask the owner if he keeps that linkage up(it has to be disassembled to be serviced). A leaky countershaft was my only other issue. I am at 18K miles now and running strong.

I bet you money all the 640 Adventure bikes are going to become classics like the old airhead BMW R80GS.
It is a simple, correct design with no major flaws, quality built and well supported by KTM and in the accessory market. There are a ton of engines out there and you rarely here of one totally gone.
The prices of used machines will only go so low cause the new ones will be expensive and more complicated.

More importantly the 640 Adventures are beautiful to look at. The shape of the tank and the flowing lines of the rest of the machine says big fucking adventure dirt bike better than anything else.

I have been riding bikes for 13yrs and am more than a little mechanically inclined. I have mostly owned mostly vintage bikes and always worked on everything on my own. 1970s hondas and Moto Guzzis are my thing.

I bought mine this summer and let the sexiness of the bike lure me in like a hot gold diggin whore that really just wants your money. It is hard to buy an adventure in your home town. So most cases you end up going out of town to get one. You get excited, you plan a trip and think irrationally. I bought mine in July of this year. The bike was a claimed 9 out of 10 condition and needed nothing. The PO said he cleaned the air filter for me and changed the oil so it was ready for the long trip though the hot AZ and UT desert. So these 2 items I didn't even look at when I picked the bike up.

The bike for sure was a 10 footer. It looked fantastic at this distance, new paint, nice tires, decals.. But it was dirty from a recent ride. Needless to say dirt hides a lot. From what I saw right off in my quick once over was it needed a new chain and sprockets, and some brakes. I figured what the hell that isn't too big of a deal and took the bike home. Not what I was expecting but, I had an awesome 1000mile DS ride planned through some of the coolest areas in the state. I just wanted to get on the road.

To say the least the bike was slow on my trip home. I figured it needed some carb lovin.
I found this when I got home:

Is this an air filter or some kind of pastry? Had the PO had done the Baja 1000 with this filter.........This says it all about the condition of the bike and how it was maintained. I ride real dirt bikes in the desert every weekend. I have never seen a filter like this one, even after a race. Don't always believe what anyone says EVER about a bike...Check this stuff out for yourself when buying a bike. No matter how nice they are. Anyway that was july. After 100s of $$ and lots of time the bike is now becoming pretty sorted out. I at least know its flaws, I hope. In the end I paid a bit much for what I got, but 640a's don't grow on trees. I really like the bike now and think I will end up keeping it for a long time. The bike is an 03, had 14,000 miles when I bought it. I paid $5000. All of these things have had to be sorted out. Some stuff major and other stuff basic stuff that was needed.

shock rebuilt needed new bushings throughout. Most likely never serviced.

front end alignment issues.. Now on the hunt for new triple clamps/ or complete fork.

Front and rear wheel trued and torqued

linkage and bearings replaced, the dogbone pivots in the frame were partially seized.

Swingarm lubed

The nice new paint pops off like an easter egg shell when the bike is dropped. It now has large 1/16" deep patches missing on each side of the tank. This one is on the list to fix.

So my advice to anyone going to look at any bike out of town is this. Check it all out. Don't be too excited. Get very specific pics of the bike before you go. Closeups of chain/sprockets, brakes, tires, odometer, shock, forks, and even the air filter will give you a better idea of the condition before you go. Don't buy a dirty bike or look at it at night. Bring cash, or at least some cash to negotiate. Don't just show up with a bank check for the agreed amount.
And be ready to hop back on a plane and just come home. Plane tickets are cheaper than a project bike.

I must have got the deal of a lifetime. I found my '01 Adv on Cycletrader one Monday morning. It was at Canyon Honda in Scottsdale, AZ on consignment. The owner has many bikes and needed room in his garage for another one, so the Adv "had to go".

The advertised price was $4000 INCLUDING the factory plastic hard luggage, it had just been serviced by the dealer, and it already had the recalled front wheel replaced. I called first thing in the morning and bought it verbally. Several others called after I did but too bad.. I did have to pay sales tax (can't escape that) and a "document preparation fee" from the dealer which seemed pretty high but they were very friendly and helpfull with the entire process.

The bike had 700 miles on it and just a couple of rubs or scratches. I have since put on 5000 miles and the only problem is both fork seals are now shot. I sold the hard luggage on ADVrider for $400 + freight which was a pretty good deal for both buyer and seller.

On the downside I looked for a bike for several months and had to fly to Phoenix and ride it home in the winter. (I don't count the cost of this because the ticket was free and the return trip was my first ADVENTURE)

Bottom line is if you have patience and luck, you can get the bike you want. I do agree with the statement above,

"Never buy a used LC4 from anybody who has used it the way it is meant to be used, period !

... what I think is a good, although not necessarily complete by any means, list of things to look for... and an opinion on buying used LC4s in general.
...

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creeper said:

...This was my intent for posting... I can't remember everything off the top of my head and as I don't know "FB" from Adam, I didn't want to invest too much time and effort into doing what would be his research.
But after considering what I had down already, I figured that if I posted it, then other knowledgeable folks would add in there own bits and pieces to consider. Some exceptions to this would be posts that are irrelevant to the intent.
...

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I still don't have anything to add to the list, so I am looking at a reprimand.